The Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in the Arab Gulf RegionAbdel Hamid El Ahdab

ABSTRACT

Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and in particular arbitration, represent a major issue in the Arab Gulf region.The development of the international business market in the region has attracted a large number of foreign investors leading to an increase in the number of disputes in various sectors. Consequently, a number of Arab countries have updated their laws and regulations on arbitration.This article tackles the issue of recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In each of these countries, a distinction is drawn between domestic and international arbitration in terms of the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. The article also examines the provisions of treaties pertaining to the enforcement of arbitral awards to which these countries are parties, as well as the Riyadh Convention on Judicial Cooperation.